The Student Room Group

Special Support loan

So I've received a message from Student Finance about getting me a Special Support Loan because I have PIP. However, I put a maintenance loan of getting 4000 instead of the max loan. Will the special support increase my maintenance loan above 4000 or does it stay the same?
Reply 1
Original post by kimchiismyhero
So I've received a message from Student Finance about getting me a Special Support Loan because I have PIP. However, I put a maintenance loan of getting 4000 instead of the max loan. Will the special support increase my maintenance loan above 4000 or does it stay the same?

Hi Kim. As long as you have provided the evidence we should still be able to assess you for this additional amount. I would advise allowing the time for this to now be processed, if anything else is required you will be contacted. Thanks, David
Original post by David SLC
Hi Kim. As long as you have provided the evidence we should still be able to assess you for this additional amount. I would advise allowing the time for this to now be processed, if anything else is required you will be contacted. Thanks, David

HI thank you for the message, if my support loan approved, do you know the additional amount i get after i put 4000 on my maintenance loan? my family household income is under 16000. Tired to use student finance calculator but it didnt have the special support calculator.
Reply 3
Original post by kimchiismyhero
HI thank you for the message, if my support loan approved, do you know the additional amount i get after i put 4000 on my maintenance loan? my family household income is under 16000. Tired to use student finance calculator but it didnt have the special support calculator.

Hi Kim, once the assessments have been run you'd receive the entitlement letter with the amount stated on it. You would need to be Means Tested to receive it.

Thanks, Ross
Original post by Ross SLC
Hi Kim, once the assessments have been run you'd receive the entitlement letter with the amount stated on it. You would need to be Means Tested to receive it.
Thanks, Ross

Great. Also is the special support loan a grant? or do I have to pay it back?
Reply 5
Original post by kimchiismyhero
Great. Also is the special support loan a grant? or do I have to pay it back?

Hi there,

Yes, the Special Support Loan needs to be repaid, but it will just be added to your normal repayment balance.

Thanks, Graeme
Original post by Graeme SFE
Hi there,
Yes, the Special Support Loan needs to be repaid, but it will just be added to your normal repayment balance.
Thanks, Graeme

Is it not a grant?
Reply 7
Original post by kimchiismyhero
Is it not a grant?

Hi,

The Special Support is an element of the Maintenance Loan, not a Grant. As it's part of the Maintenance Loan it is repayable which will be on your repayment balance.

Thanks, Ross
Original post by kimchiismyhero
So I've received a message from Student Finance about getting me a Special Support Loan because I have PIP. However, I put a maintenance loan of getting 4000 instead of the max loan. Will the special support increase my maintenance loan above 4000 or does it stay the same?
Are you aware that if you receive any means tested benefits (like universal credit or legacy benefits) that if you refuse to take the full loan you will still be treated as having taken the full loan for benefit income deduction calculations. It’s called ‘notional income’. So in context it means let’s say max loan is 11000 and you only take 4000, they will still calculate your student income as 11000.
Reply 9
Original post by kimchiismyhero
Is it not a grant?

If you have any further questions regarding this, let us know 🙂 Thanks, SFE.

Quick Reply